On Wed, Jun 07, 2000 at 01:15:40PM +0100, Jules Bean wrote:
> b) Free software is better than non-free software because it is
> *morally better*.
[...]
> It's up to you to decide. I became a debian member because I believed
> (b). I also hope that (a) is true, although I'm not yet entirely
> convinced by that. But I really believe (b).
[...]
> But I think that people should remember that Debian was created on a
> moral stance, not a practical one.
Actually, I don't think this is completely true. There was certainly a
large component of practical consideration in Ian Murdock's decision to
found the Debian Project, and that was the fact that Soft Landing System
sucked so badly. :)
See elsewhere for my thoughts on philosophies behind why people
like/use/develop free software and Debian in particular. I don't care WHY
people contribute, I'm just glad that they do. I also don't think one has
to adhere to any particular philosophical ideas about free software to
support, or oppose, the GR.
--
G. Branden Robinson | If you have the slightest bit of
Debian GNU/Linux | intellectual integrity you cannot
branden@ecn.purdue.edu | support the government.
roger.ecn.purdue.edu/~branden/ | -- anonymous